Perspiration absorbing device

ABSTRACT

A hand-mountable device for use in removal of perspiration from a user&#39;s facial area includes a pad of moisture absorbent material shaped to extend across the anterior surface of at least a part of the palm and anterior finger surfaces of a user&#39;s hand, the pad having a distal end positionable adjacent the tips of the user&#39;s fingers and a proximal end positionable across the user&#39;s palm; a first attachment means secured to the proximal end of the pad, the hand attachment means being adapted for attachment over the dorsal surface of a user&#39;s hand; and an optional second attachment means secured to the distal end of the pad, the first attachment means being adapted for attachment to one of the user&#39;s fingers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a device for removing perspiration from a user's facial area during running and other vigorous physical exercise, and in particular to a device including a moisture absorbing pad worn on the palm area of a user's hand, permitting removal of perspiration absorbed by the pad by simply gripping the pad.

(2) Description of the Prior Art

During strenuous physical exercise, such as distance running, an individual perspires extensively as the body attempts to discharge generated heat. Much of the perspiration is from the facial area, in particular around the brow area, causing perspiration to flow into the eyes, making it difficult to see and causing discomfort.

Runners and those engaged in other forms of exercise attempt to prevent perspiration from entering the eyes by wearing headbands to absorb the perspiration and/or by carrying a towel or other moisture absorbent article to wipe the perspiration away from the eyes and facial area. While of some value, headbands tend to become saturated after a period of exercise and can also be uncomfortable in that they tend to shift during exercise. Towels also become saturated and must be placed in a secure location when not used.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,846 to Short, issued Jan. 24, 1995, describes an alternative device to address this problem. Basically, the Short device is comprised of a band of moisture absorbing material, e.g., synthetic chamois, that is inserted around the user's forefinger. When the device becomes saturated with perspiration during running or other exercise, the user of the Short device can make a fist to squeeze moisture from the device without removing the device, or can remove the device before squeezing to remove moisture.

The Short device provides some advantages over the headband or towel alternatives in that perspiration can be squeezed from the device during use and, unlike the towel, the device is worn on the finger and is readily accessible instead of being stored in a pocket or the like. However, the Short device is deficient in its primary function of perspiration removal, in that only a small amount of perspiration can be removed before the device is saturated, requiring frequent brushing of the device over the facial area. Moreover, unless the Short device is removed from the finger, squeezing of the device by gripping essentially only squeezes the perspiration from the inner surface, i.e., the part of the device adjacent the inner surface of the finger, and does not remove a significant amount of perspiration from the upper surface of the device. Thus, removal of only a small amount of perspiration during a single stroke of the device on the facial area is possible.

Therefore, there still remains a need for a means to effectively remove moisture from the facial area of a runner or other exercising individual without requiring frequent wiping of the brow and other facial area, and in particular for a device that will hold large amounts of perspiration while still being easily and essentially completely compressible to remove the perspiration while the device is worn on the user's hand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses this need by providing a perspiration absorbing device that is worn on the user's hand during exercise without interfering with the movement of the user's hand, while enabling the user to easily remove a large amount of perspiration from his or her facial area, and thereafter squeeze essentially all of the perspiration from the device.

Essentially, the device is comprised of a pad of moisture absorbent material sized to fit across the user's hand and over at least a part of the palm area and at least a part of the fingers, and an attachment means extendable around the hand to secure the pad in place. The pad is of a sufficient thickness to provide a reservoir for absorbed moisture and may be constructed of various moisture absorbent materials. For example, the pad may range in thickness from about 0.125 inch to about 1.0 inch. Open or closed cell foam, woven or nonwoven fabric, synthetic chamois, or the like may be used as the material for construction of the pad. The pad may also be constructed of multiple layers, with the layers being of the same or different materials, e.g. the pad may be constructed of a woven or nonwoven outer layer and a foam inner layer.

The attachment means may be in the form of a strap secured to the pad, e.g., to the pad inner surface, and sized to extend around the user's hand. The strap may be an elastic material that is stretched around the hand. Alternatively, the strap can be comprised to two opposed strap sections having attachable ends that are joined on the posterior surface of the hand. For example, the strap ends may include hook-and-loop fastener sections that join to each other.

In a preferred embodiment, the device is comprised of a sheet-like pad of moisture absorbent material having opposed side edges and distal and proximal edges, a primary attachment means to secure the distal edge of the pad to the palm of the user's hand and a supplemental attachment means to secure the distal edge of the pad to the tip of at least one of the user's fingers. Preferably, the pad is sized to fit substantially across a part of the palm and substantially all of the anterior finger surfaces of the user's hand providing a large surface area for contact with the user's facial area and absorbance of a large amount of perspiration. The sheet has an inner surface that is held taut against the user's palm and fingers when the primary and supplemental attachment means are secured to the hand and finger and the hand is held in an extended position, i.e., without the fingers being bent. Due to its longer length, the pad of this embodiment is generally of a lesser thickness than the pad described above, permitting folding and collapsing of the pad when the pad is squeezed. Since the pad has a larger surface area, an equal moisture absorbing capability is possible, even though the pad is thinner. While the optimal thickness of the pad will differ depending on the material from which the pad is formed, the pad for this embodiment will normally be from about 0.125 to about 0.25 inch.

The primary attachment means extends from adjacent the proximal edge of the pad around the posterior surface of the hand to secure the pad to the palm. The primary attachment means may be comprised of an elastic material that is stretched for placement around the hand. Alternatively, the primary attachment means may be comprised of two opposed strap sections having attachable ends that are joined on the posterior surface of the hand. For example, the strap ends may include hook-and-loop fastener sections that join to each other.

The supplemental attachment means is secured adjacent to the distal end of the pad and is adapted to fit onto the tip of at least one of the user's fingers, e.g., the middle finger. Preferably, the supplemental attachment means is in the shape of a closed end tube that slides over the tip of the user's finger, with the outer surface of the tube being secured to the inner surface of the sheet. The first attachment means may also wrap around the finger tip above the outer (DIP) joint.

In operation, the user positions the pad on the inner surface of the hand and attaches the primary attachment means around the hand to hold the pad in place. In the preferred embodiment, the supplemental attachment means is secured to the tip of a finger. When perspiring during exercise, the user merely wipes his or her facial area, the term including the area around the eyes, to remove perspiration, which is absorbed by the pad. When the pad becomes saturated, the user merely makes a tight fist, squeezing the pad to expel absorbed perspiration. Thus, a large quantity of perspiration can be absorbed and easily discharged from the pad without removal of the pad from the hand, freeing the pad for collection of additional perspiration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the device as seen from the volar side of a user's hand.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the device of FIG. 1 as seen from the dorsal side of a user's hand.

FIG. 3 is a top view of another embodiment of the device as seen from the volar side of a user's hand.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the device of FIG. 3 as seen from the dorsal side of a user's hand.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, terms such as horizontal, upright, vertical, above, below, beneath, and the like, are used solely for the purpose of clarity in illustrating the invention, and should not be taken as words of limitation. The drawings are for the purpose of illustrating the invention and are not intended to be to scale.

In one embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, device, generally 10, shown attached to a user's hand, is comprised of a generally rectangular pad 12 held in the palm of the user's hand by strap 14, which extends over the back of the user's hand. Strap 14 may be continuous and may be elastic to aid in placement over the hand. Strap 14 may also be covered with a moisture-absorbent material, e.g., terrycloth, to provide another surface for moisture removal. Strap 14 may be attached to the inner side of pad 12 by a variety of means that will be apparent to one skilled in the art, including sewing, gluing, hook-and-loop fasteners, etc. As shown, pad 12 has a proximal edge positionable at approximately the midpoint of the user's palm, and a distal edge positionable at approximately the middle (PIP) joints of the fingers.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, device, generally 20, is comprised of pad 22 that extends over a larger area than pad 12. The proximal edge of pad 22 extends substantially across the user's hand at approximately the midpoint of the user's palm, while the distal edge of pad 22 is generally curved to follow the contour of the user's finger tips.

Pad 22 is attached along its proximal edge with connectable strap sections 24 and 26 that join on the dorsal side of the user's hand by overlapping ends having attachable hook-and-loop sections 28 and 30. The distal edge of pad 22 is attached to the tip of the user's middle finger with finger cap 32 in the shape of a closed-end tube. Cap 32 is preferably attached to the inner surface of pad 22, but can be attached in other configurations. Cap 32 can be attached to pad 22 in various ways, including gluing, sewing, hook-and-loop fasteners, etc. Generally, pad 22 will be of a lesser thickness than pad 12, i.e., more in the form of a sheet of moisture-absorbent material, so that pad 22 can be easily folded and compressed. Preferably, pad 22 will be from about 0.125 to about 0.25 inch in thickness.

Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the foregoing description. For example, the straps of the two embodiments are interchangeable and either strap can be covered with a moisture-absorbent material. Also, the pads do not need to be of the identical shapes illustrated. It should be understood that all such modifications and improvements have been deleted herein for the sake of conciseness and readability but are properly within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A hand-mountable device for use in removal of perspiration from a user's facial area comprising: a) a pad of moisture absorbent material having a distal end and a proximal end; and c) an attachment means secured to said pad, said attachment means being sized to extend around a user's hand.
 2. The hand-mounted device of claim 1, wherein said sheet is sized to extend across the anterior surfaces of the user's palm and fingers.
 3. The hand-mounted device of claim 1, wherein said attachment means is comprised of opposed straps having connectable ends.
 4. The hand mounted device of claim 1, wherein said attachment means is comprised of a moisture-absorbent material.
 5. The hand-mountable device of claim 1, wherein said pad has a thickness of from about 0.125 inch to about 1.0 inch.
 6. A hand-mountable device for use in removal of perspiration from a user's facial area comprising: a) a pad of moisture absorbent material having a distal edge and a proximal edge; b) a first attachment means secured adjacent the proximal edge of said pad, said first attachment means being sized to extend around the user's hand; and c) a second attachment means secured adjacent the distal edge of said pad, said second attachment means being adapted for attachment to at least one of the user's fingers.
 7. The hand-mounted device of claim 6, wherein said sheet is sized to extend across the anterior surfaces of the user's palm and fingers.
 8. The hand-mounted device of claim 6, wherein said attachment means is comprised of opposed straps having connectable ends.
 9. The hand-mounted device of claim 6, wherein said attachment means is comprised of a moisture-absorbent material.
 10. The hand-mounted device of claim 6, wherein said pad has a thickness of from about 0.125 inch to about 0.25 inch.
 11. A hand-mountable device for use in removal of perspiration from a user's facial area comprising: a) a pad of moisture absorbent material shaped to extend across the anterior surface of the palm and anterior finger surfaces of a user's hand, said pad having a distal edge positionable adjacent the tips of the user's fingers and a proximal edge positionable across the user's palm; b) a first attachment means secured adjacent the proximal edge of said pad, said first attachment means being adapted for attachment over the dorsal surface of a user's hand; and c) a second attachment means secured adjacent the distal edge of said pad, said second attachment means being adapted for attachment to one of the user's fingers.
 12. The hand-mounted device of claim 11, wherein said pad has a thickness of from about 0.125 inch to about 0.25 inch.
 13. The hand-mounted device of claim 11, wherein said first attachment means is comprised of opposed straps having connectable ends.
 14. The hand-mounted device of claim 11, wherein said second attachment means is a closed-end tube sized to fit over a user's middle finger, said second attachment means having an outer surface attached to said pad.
 15. The hand mounted device of claim 11, wherein said first attachment means is comprised of a moisture-absorbent material.
 16. The hand-mounted device of claim 11, wherein said first attachment means is stretchable.
 17. The hand-mounted device of claim 11, wherein said first attachment means has a terrycloth covering.
 18. The hand-mounted device of claim 11, wherein said pad is taut when said first and second attachment means are secured to an extended hand. 